Home Search The American Presidency Project
John Woolley and Gerhard Peters Home Data Documents Elections Media Links
 
Document Archive
• Public Papers of the Presidents
• State of the Union
Addresses & Messages
• Inaugural Addresses
• Weekly Addresses
• Fireside Chats
• News Conferences
• Executive Orders
• Proclamations
• Signing Statements
• Press Briefings
• Statements of
 Administration Policy
• Economic Report of the President
• Debates
• Convention Speeches
• Party Platforms
• 2012 Election Documents
• 2008 Election Documents
• 2004 Election Documents
• 1960 Election Documents
• 2009 Transition
• 2001 Transition
Data Archive
Data Index
Media Archive
Audio/Video Index
Elections
Election Index
Florida 2000
Links
Presidential Libraries


  Presidential Proclamations
  Washington - Obama

The Power to Proclaim ... by Brandon Rottinghaus, University of Houston
Brandon RottinghausA presidential proclamation is “an instrument that states a condition, declares a law and requires obedience, recognizes an event or triggers the implementation of a law (by recognizing that the circumstances in law have been realized)” (Cooper 2002, 116). In short, presidents “define” situations or conditions on situations that become legal or economic truth. These orders carry the same force of law as executive orders – the difference between the two is that executive orders are aimed at those inside government while proclamations are aimed at those outside government. The administrative weight of these proclamations is upheld because they are often specifically authorized by congressional statute, making them “delegated unilateral powers.” Presidential proclamations are often dismissed as a practical presidential tool for policy making because of the perception of proclamations as largely ceremonial or symbolic in nature. However, the legal weight of presidential proclamations suggests their importance to presidential governance. - click to continue reading this research note
Select
Year  
President Date Title
William J. Clinton January 12, 2001 Proclamation 7390 - Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, 2001
William J. Clinton January 15, 2001 Proclamation 7391 - Religious Freedom Day, 2001
William J. Clinton January 17, 2001 Proclamation 7392 - Boundary Enlargement and Modifications of the Buck Island Reef National Monument
William J. Clinton January 17, 2001 Proclamation 7393 - Establishment of the Carrizo Plain National Monument
William J. Clinton January 17, 2001 Proclamation 7394 - Establishment of the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
William J. Clinton January 17, 2001 Proclamation 7395 - Establishment of the Minidoka Internment National Monument
William J. Clinton January 17, 2001 Proclamation 7396 - Establishment of the Pompeys Pillar National Monument
William J. Clinton January 17, 2001 Proclamation 7397 - Establishment of the Sonoran Desert National Monument
William J. Clinton January 17, 2001 Proclamation 7398 - Establishment of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument
William J. Clinton January 17, 2001 Proclamation 7399 - Establishment of the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument
William J. Clinton January 17, 2001 Proclamation 7400 - To Designate Swaziland as a Beneficiary Sub-Saharan African Country and for Other Purposes
William J. Clinton January 17, 2001 Proclamation 7401 - To Implement an Accelerated Schedule of Duty Elimination Under the North American Free Trade Agreement and for Other Purposes
William J. Clinton January 19, 2001 Proclamation 7402 - Establishment of the Governors Island National Monument
George W. Bush January 20, 2001 Proclamation 7403 - National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, 2001
George W. Bush February 1, 2001 Proclamation 7404--National African American History Month
George W. Bush February 5, 2001 Proclamation 7405--National Consumer Protection Week
George W. Bush February 7, 2001 Proclamation 7406--American Heart Month, 2001
George W. Bush February 7, 2001 Proclamation 7407--National Burn Awareness Week, 2001
George W. Bush February 26, 2001 Proclamation 7408--American Red Cross Month, 2001
George W. Bush February 26, 2001 Proclamation 7409--Irish-American Heritage Month, 2001
George W. Bush February 28, 2001 Proclamation 7410--Fortieth Anniversary of the Peace Corps
George W. Bush March 1, 2001 Proclamation 7411--Women's History Month, 2001
George W. Bush March 2, 2001 Proclamation 7412--National Poison Prevention Week, 2001
George W. Bush March 5, 2001 Proclamation 7413--Save Your Vision Week, 2001
George W. Bush March 5, 2001 Proclamation 7414--Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy, 2001
George W. Bush March 8, 2001 Proclamation 7415--National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, 2001
George W. Bush March 16, 2001 Proclamation 7416--National Girl Scout Week, 2001
George W. Bush March 22, 2001 Proclamation 7417--Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A., 2001
George W. Bush March 28, 2001 Proclamation 7418--Cancer Control Month, 2001
George W. Bush March 28, 2001 Proclamation 7419--National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2001
George W. Bush April 2, 2001 Proclamation 7420--Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2001
George W. Bush April 2, 2001 Proclamation 7421--National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, 2001
George W. Bush April 4, 2001 Proclamation 7422--National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week, 2001
George W. Bush April 9, 2001 Proclamation 7423--Jewish Heritage Week, 2001
George W. Bush April 9, 2001 Proclamation 7424--National Crime Victims' Rights Week, 2001
George W. Bush April 10, 2001 Proclamation 7425--National D.A.R.E. Day, 2001
George W. Bush April 12, 2001 Proclamation 7426--Thomas Jefferson Day, 2001
George W. Bush April 16, 2001 Proclamation 7427--National Volunteer Week, 2001
George W. Bush April 17, 2001 Proclamation 7428--National Park Week, 2001
George W. Bush April 25, 2001 Proclamation 7429--Loyalty Day, 2001
George W. Bush April 27, 2001 Proclamation 7430--National Day of Prayer, 2001
George W. Bush April 30, 2001 Proclamation 7431--Law Day, U.S.A., 2001
George W. Bush May 4, 2001 Proclamation 7432--Older Americans Month, 2001
George W. Bush May 4, 2001 Proclamation 7433--Small Business Week, 2001
George W. Bush May 7, 2001 Proclamation 7434--Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, 2001
George W. Bush May 8, 2001 Proclamation 7435--Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, 2001
George W. Bush May 8, 2001 Proclamation 7436--National Salvation Army Week, 2001
George W. Bush May 9, 2001 Proclamation 7437--Mother's Day, 2001
George W. Bush May 16, 2001 Proclamation 7438--National Biotechnology Week
George W. Bush May 16, 2001 Proclamation 7439--National Defense Transportation Day and National Transportation Week, 2001
George W. Bush May 17, 2001 Proclamation 7440--National Safe Boating Week, 2001
George W. Bush May 18, 2001 Proclamation 7441--World Trade Week, 2001
George W. Bush May 18, 2001 Proclamation 7442--National Maritime Day, 2001
George W. Bush May 22, 2001 Proclamation 7443--National Hurricane Awareness Week, 2001
George W. Bush May 25, 2001 Proclamation 7444--Prayer For Peace, Memorial Day, 2001
George W. Bush May 30, 2001 Proclamation 7445--To Provide for the Efficient and Fair Administration of Action Taken With Regard to Imports of Lamb Meat and for Other Purposes
George W. Bush June 2, 2001 Proclamation 7446--National Child's Day, 2001
George W. Bush June 6, 2001 Proclamation 7447--Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2001
George W. Bush June 7, 2001 Proclamation 7448--Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day
George W. Bush June 8, 2001 Proclamation 7449--To Implement the Agreement Between the United States of America and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Trade Relations
George W. Bush June 11, 2001 Proclamation 7450--Great Outdoors Week, 2001
George W. Bush June 15, 2001 Proclamation 7451--Father's Day, 2001
George W. Bush June 26, 2001 Proclamation 7452--Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons Responsible for Actions That Threaten International Stabilization Efforts in the Western Balkans, and Persons Responsible for Wartime Atrocities in That Region
George W. Bush June 29, 2001 Proclamation 7453--Black Music Month, 2001
George W. Bush June 29, 2001 Proclamation 7454--To Modify Duty-Free Treatment Under the Generalized System of Preferences
George W. Bush July 12, 2001 Proclamation 7455--Captive Nations Week, 2001
George W. Bush July 21, 2001 Proclamation 7456--Parents' Day 2001
George W. Bush July 25, 2001 Proclamation 7457--National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 2001
George W. Bush August 24, 2001 Proclamation 7458--Women's Equality Day, 2001
George W. Bush August 30, 2001 Proclamation 7459--National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, 2001
George W. Bush September 8, 2001 Proclamation 7460--National Birmingham Pledge Week, 2001
George W. Bush September 11, 2001 Proclamation 7461--Honoring the Victims of the Incidents on Tuesday, September 11, 2001
George W. Bush September 13, 2001 Proclamation 7462--National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001
George W. Bush September 14, 2001 Proclamation 7463--Declaration of National Emergency by Reason of Certain Terrorist Attacks
George W. Bush September 14, 2001 Proclamation 7464--Amending Proclamation 7461, Display of the Flag at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for the Victims of the Incidents on Tuesday, September 11, 2001
George W. Bush September 17, 2001 Proclamation 7465--National Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Week, 2001
George W. Bush September 17, 2001 Proclamation 7466--Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, 2001
George W. Bush September 17, 2001 Proclamation 7467--Minority Enterprise Development Week, 2001
George W. Bush September 19, 2001 Proclamation 7468--To Modify Duty-Free Treatment Under the Generalized System of Preferences
George W. Bush September 21, 2001 Proclamation 7469--National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2001
George W. Bush September 24, 2001 Proclamation 7470--Family Day, 2001
George W. Bush September 28, 2001 Proclamation 7471--National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2001
George W. Bush September 28, 2001 Proclamation 7472--National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, 2001
George W. Bush September 28, 2001 Proclamation 7473--National Public Lands Day, 2001
George W. Bush September 28, 2001 Proclamation 7474--Gold Star Mother's Day, 2001
George W. Bush October 1, 2001 Proclamation 7475--National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2001
George W. Bush October 1, 2001 Proclamation 7476--Child Health Day, 2001
George W. Bush October 3, 2001 Proclamation 7477--National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 2001
George W. Bush October 3, 2001 Proclamation 7478--National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2001
George W. Bush October 5, 2001 Proclamation 7479--Death of Michael J. Mansfield
George W. Bush October 5, 2001 Proclamation 7480--Fire Prevention Week, 2001
George W. Bush October 5, 2001 Proclamation 7481--German-American Day, 2001
George W. Bush October 8, 2001 Proclamation 7482--Columbus Day, 2001
George W. Bush October 9, 2001 Proclamation 7483--Leif Erikson Day, 2001
George W. Bush October 10, 2001 Proclamation 7484--General Pulaski Memorial Day, 2001
George W. Bush October 15, 2001 Proclamation 7485--National School Lunch Week, 2001
George W. Bush October 15, 2001 Proclamation 7486--White Cane Safety Day, 2001
George W. Bush October 19, 2001 Proclamation 7487--National Forest Products Week, 2001
George W. Bush October 22, 2001 Proclamation 7488--National Character Counts Week, 2001
George W. Bush October 24, 2001 Proclamation 7489--National Red Ribbon Week for a Drug-Free America, 2001
George W. Bush October 24, 2001 Proclamation 7490--United Nations Day, 2001
George W. Bush October 30, 2001 Proclamation 7491--Veterans Day, 2001
George W. Bush November 1, 2001 Proclamation 7492--National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, 2001
George W. Bush November 5, 2001 Proclamation 7493--National Adoption Month, 2001
George W. Bush November 9, 2001 Proclamation 7494--National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, 2001
George W. Bush November 9, 2001 Proclamation 7495--Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Month, 2001
George W. Bush November 9, 2001 Proclamation 7496--National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, 2001
George W. Bush November 9, 2001 Proclamation 7497--National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, 2001
George W. Bush November 9, 2001 Proclamation 7498--National Family Caregivers Month, 2001
George W. Bush November 9, 2001 Proclamation 7499--World Freedom Day, 2001
George W. Bush November 12, 2001 Proclamation 7500--National American Indian Heritage Month, 2001
George W. Bush November 13, 2001 Proclamation 7501--National Farm-City Week, 2001
George W. Bush November 14, 2001 Proclamation 7502--To Provide for the Termination of Action Taken With Regard to Imports of Lamb Meat
George W. Bush November 15, 2001 Proclamation 7503--America Recycles Day, 2001
George W. Bush November 16, 2001 Proclamation 7504--Thanksgiving Day, 2001
George W. Bush November 21, 2001 Proclamation 7505--To Modify the Tariff-Rate Quota Applicable to Imports of Steel Wire Rod
George W. Bush November 21, 2001 Proclamation 7506 - National Family Week, 2001
George W. Bush November 29, 2001 Proclamation 7507--National Diabetes Month, 2001
George W. Bush November 29, 2001 Proclamation 7508--National Hospice Month, 2001
George W. Bush November 29, 2001 Proclamation 7509--National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, 2001
George W. Bush November 30, 2001 Proclamation 7510--World AIDS Day, 2001
George W. Bush December 5, 2001 Proclamation 7511--National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2001
George W. Bush December 7, 2001 Proclamation 7512--To Implement the Agreement Between the United States of America and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area
George W. Bush December 9, 2001 Proclamation 7513--Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human Rights Week, 2001
George W. Bush December 13, 2001 Proclamation 7514--Wright Brothers Day, 2001
George W. Bush December 18, 2001 Proclamation 7515--To Modify the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, To Provide Rules of Origin Under the North American Free Trade Agreement for Affected Goods, and for Other Purposes
George W. Bush December 27, 2001 Proclamation 7516--To Extend Nondiscriminatory Treatment (Normal Trade Relations Treatment) to the Products of the People's Republic of China

Presidential proclamations do have important political and historical consequences in the development of the United States, including President Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality in 1793 and President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

Other more recent policy-based proclamations have also made a substantial impact on economic and domestic policy, including President Clinton’s declaration of federal lands for national monuments and President Bush’s declaration of the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina as disaster areas.

Proclamations are also used, often contentiously, to grant presidential pardons, particularly important for President Ford who pardoned President Richard Nixon and President Carter draft evaders in Vietnam..

Although less significant in terms of public policy, proclamations are also used ceremonially by presidents to honor a group or situation or to call attention to certain issues or events. For instance, President George H.W. Bush issued a proclamation to honor veterans of World War II and President Reagan called attention to the health of the nation’s eyes by proclaiming a “Save Your Vision Week”.

Brandon Rottinghaus
University of Houston

References
Cooper, Phillip J. 2002. By Order of the President: The Use and Abuse of Executive Direct Action. Lawrence: University of Kansas Press.

Home         
© 1999-2013 - Gerhard Peters - The American Presidency Project
Locations of visitors to this page